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I’d be angry too.

I’m fascinated by any dialogue regarding the existence of God. And I don’t say that as a “spiritual” person, as strange as that might sound. I say that as a human being with a functioning (debatable) brain. Honestly and truly, I’m so intrigued by the thoughts of others (and even myself) in relation to God, or gods, or goddesses, or a supreme cosmic whoever-you-are. Intellectually, sociologically, emotionally, and in many other ways–I’m just drawn to conversations like the proverbial moth to a flame.

Pretty consistently however, I have made an observation when I read the writings of atheists. They usually seem kind of angry. And I use the term angry in a loose fashion. Anger is a broad term and I understand that it might sound unfair. But indulge me because I’m about to put myself in the same boat. Far be it from me to look down my nose at anyone. I know myself too well to pull a stunt like that.

I was reading just yesterday a lengthy blog by a rock-solid atheist, along with the host of replies the blog post received; each one seeming to agree with the author’s position and thereby offering replies of support and cohesion with his stance. Fair enough. But as I re-read his post and even re-reading many statements several times, I couldn’t help but imagine in my mind a man who is so calloused and yet so seemingly clothed in the guise of a liberated mind. It was a post that was actually painful to read.

And I can say with a fair amount of confidence that if the author of that post happened to stumble upon this one as I write about him, he’d be very quick to tell me not to categorize him, pity him, or even speak about him. After all, he’s far too learned and therefore undefinable.

The sense that I got from his writings is that he has come in contact with a long line of people who perpetrate the argument that a God does indeed exist. And let’s not be pigeon-holed into speaking of one god. As we know, there are far too many gods in far too many religions for anyone to be able to say with a straight face that there is only one God. The Hindu religion alone has over 330 million gods. But what those he has interacted with or heard from afar would proport is that there is really only ONE God. So, with faith that flies in the face of science, intellect, and plain ‘ol common sense, this man has come out the other end with his conclusions:-I am an intellegent adult human being. -Science explains everything I need to know.-Logic has no room for the notion of God.-Those who would suggest otherwise are simply ignorant and weak.-I’m sick and tired of “Christians” peddling their mumbo-jumbo in the name of their fairytale God.-I have taken my anger toward them and will dispute loud and long the inadequacies of their “faith”. -As for me, I choose a godless life.

And I confess that while all that makes sense on a very cerebral/logical and even secularistic scientific level, I must, albeit naively ask: “Do you have any need for hope?” I would guess that his answer would be a resounding “No.” It seems that hope is for those who can’t handle the current reality the way it is. Hope is for those who aren’t strong enough for today’s affairs and therefore must pin their dreams elsewhere. Put simply: Hope is for wusses.

And how might an atheist argue for human rights? I’m not saying that all atheists are on the same plain as cannibals, of course. But follow the “logic”. If there is no God, then no matter which way you slice it, we are a product of ourselves or more likely, some far off collision that accidentally happened and over billions of years we have become so evolved that we can create vehicles whereby we can send each other into space and back, we have created devices that allow us to have instant conversations with each other while on two opposite sides of the planet. We have evolved to where we have created a machine that can take a frozen burrito (which we invented), put it in a box for 2 minutes, and have a piping hot meal. So, if we are the result of such an accident then there is no power/being/force overseeing us. We’re it. And if there is no being overseeing us, there is no arbitrator or judge to which we will be help accountable. So, why in the name of us would I do anything civilized? Why would I treat another person with respect? Simply because that person is a fellow human being? Sorry, but that argument doesn’t stand to reason. Logically, without a creator, the creation should do exactly whatever the creation wants to do. After all, without a designer, there is no design. Without design, we’re simply random beings co-existing the same planet until our hearts stop pumping and our brains stop firing. At which point we simply decompose. So, to an atheist I am nothing more than a pre-decomposed being without any grasp of purpose, direction, or guide. I dare you to explain something to me that convinces me otherwise.

Yep, I’d be angry too. And honestly, I’m not trying to be belligerent or inflamatory. I have long ago become aware of the futility of argument between such opposing viewpoints. And yet what I read yesterday (and some might argue this blog is exactly the same thing) was dripping with such angst, such passion, and such disdain for anyone of “faith”. And I don’t know the intended point of the blog I read yesterday. I’m not entirely sure it had one. I freely acknowledge that the same could be said of this one. I’m just so intrigued by humans who seem so intent on eradicating their world of the nonsensical idea of a divine, loving God.

But to what end? It’s a preposterous idea to think that someday the entire earth will be covered with people who share a common view of a non-existent God. In fact, I believe the opposite will be true. I believe that the God who is the Creator will show Himself in no uncertain terms to His creation, and the earth will be covered with people who share the common view that there is indeed a God. A loving, caring, just, eternal, holy God.

And I don’t say that as a “spiritual” person. I say it as a human being with a functioning brain.